July 19 Asian leaders debate sea dispute

I was twelve and earning my first wage. I wore my security badge with pride as I scuttled round the edges of the room. In the middle a large table dominated, it was covered with a giant map of the Indian ocean gridded into irregular sections and a host of Asian leaders were taking turns to claim an area. The Taiwanese had left already in protest at their nearest waters being selected before they'd had time to make a choice. The Indonesian emissary kept cheating when no one was looking and the Burmese missed their turn twice due to their elderly representative falling asleep.

My job was to carry the warmed cups into which an older girl would pour steaming hot tea.

When it came for our break we ran outside and it was then that I asked her what they were doing.

" they're claiming the land where he will appear from next, this is high stakes gambling Yip, the big time "

And that was the moment my life began.